I am an intermediate who started going into powder last time out (with varying degrees of success). Could someone please tell me the correct way to initiate turns in powder.
Thanks
Initiate turns in powder??
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Started by Hopscotch in Ski Technique 29-Dec-2006 - 6 Replies
Hopscotch posted Dec-2006
Pavelski
reply to 'Initiate turns in powder??' posted Dec-2006
Everything you learned will have to be relearned in powder!
If you are talking about serious powder(up to chest). There is no turns as you know it. It is fall line skiing in which you FLOAT, yes float!
No set edges. No hard left or right turns.
This is when your heart is in your mouth! You feel you are going too fast yet you need the speed to float.
Allow me an example.
If ever you have been on large motored boat, you must increase power, thus speed to "plane" over water. Resistance thus is minimal. It is called among boaters, "getting over the hump"! That is what you must do, but the hump is your brain!
The same is true in powder skiing. You must have enough confidence in your skiing ability to go faster, and if you have the correct technique you will feel like being on clouds. No resistance!
People will tell you to lean back on heels! No way Stay centered on skis!
People will tell you to do wild exaggerated up/down movements! No
Rather than tell you how to ski powder, let me tell you some "tricks" to prepare you for the powder!
1. Believe in you self to do it.
In skiing powder there is no half measure. You must commit yourself totally! You can not hold back! Just think ,,,,that white stuff is soft and nothing can happen!
2. Going fall line , nothing will happen if you are in correct position. It is when YOU become afraid and; try to turn quickly, lean back or just try to stop from fear that you will have problems.
Now here is how to learn to ski powder.
Select a steep ( yes steeper than you would normally ski) section that is uniform, wide with run off section. The run off is your psychological parachute!
Do not stop to look at section when you enter this steeper section since the first turn is the most difficult. You need the speed!
Look straight down. Do not listen to that voice that is saying, " too fast too fast,,,, you idiot think of your legs, your wife, your job,,,,,"
Just listen to your heart increase beats!
Stay fall line. Do not deviate more than 1 meter on each side!
The secret is the rhythm once you have tamed your fear!
Strange as it may seem, once you are in good position, done your first turn, the skis will occilate up and down like a tuning fork! You must now get in rhythm with this up down movement. Here is the essence of powder skiing,,,you must be in sync with the ski as it moves up and down!
At top cycle, you can direct skis ( always fall line) but to left or right.
At bottom cycle, close mouth, enjoy sight of rushing snow passed you, enjoy quietness! Enjoy softness of skis on snow! Keep cool even when that voice is begging you to slow down!!!!!
The second you give up on yourself, the second you become afraid, the second you have negative thoughts that is when you will have problems!
If you do wipe out,,,make it spectacular. Do not fight fall ( if it comes) but then you believe in your skiing ability. Falling is a word you do not know!
Pleasure in powder only comes to those that push their limits. It is an internal battle not a physical one ,,,,since skiing in powder is one of the most peaceful, relaxed experiences you can ever have.
Really you float...
Trust yourself!
That 10 seconds in powder will become 30 then 60 seconds but it will last a life time!
Hope this will help!!!!
If you are talking about serious powder(up to chest). There is no turns as you know it. It is fall line skiing in which you FLOAT, yes float!
No set edges. No hard left or right turns.
This is when your heart is in your mouth! You feel you are going too fast yet you need the speed to float.
Allow me an example.
If ever you have been on large motored boat, you must increase power, thus speed to "plane" over water. Resistance thus is minimal. It is called among boaters, "getting over the hump"! That is what you must do, but the hump is your brain!
The same is true in powder skiing. You must have enough confidence in your skiing ability to go faster, and if you have the correct technique you will feel like being on clouds. No resistance!
People will tell you to lean back on heels! No way Stay centered on skis!
People will tell you to do wild exaggerated up/down movements! No
Rather than tell you how to ski powder, let me tell you some "tricks" to prepare you for the powder!
1. Believe in you self to do it.
In skiing powder there is no half measure. You must commit yourself totally! You can not hold back! Just think ,,,,that white stuff is soft and nothing can happen!
2. Going fall line , nothing will happen if you are in correct position. It is when YOU become afraid and; try to turn quickly, lean back or just try to stop from fear that you will have problems.
Now here is how to learn to ski powder.
Select a steep ( yes steeper than you would normally ski) section that is uniform, wide with run off section. The run off is your psychological parachute!
Do not stop to look at section when you enter this steeper section since the first turn is the most difficult. You need the speed!
Look straight down. Do not listen to that voice that is saying, " too fast too fast,,,, you idiot think of your legs, your wife, your job,,,,,"
Just listen to your heart increase beats!
Stay fall line. Do not deviate more than 1 meter on each side!
The secret is the rhythm once you have tamed your fear!
Strange as it may seem, once you are in good position, done your first turn, the skis will occilate up and down like a tuning fork! You must now get in rhythm with this up down movement. Here is the essence of powder skiing,,,you must be in sync with the ski as it moves up and down!
At top cycle, you can direct skis ( always fall line) but to left or right.
At bottom cycle, close mouth, enjoy sight of rushing snow passed you, enjoy quietness! Enjoy softness of skis on snow! Keep cool even when that voice is begging you to slow down!!!!!
The second you give up on yourself, the second you become afraid, the second you have negative thoughts that is when you will have problems!
If you do wipe out,,,make it spectacular. Do not fight fall ( if it comes) but then you believe in your skiing ability. Falling is a word you do not know!
Pleasure in powder only comes to those that push their limits. It is an internal battle not a physical one ,,,,since skiing in powder is one of the most peaceful, relaxed experiences you can ever have.
Really you float...
Trust yourself!
That 10 seconds in powder will become 30 then 60 seconds but it will last a life time!
Hope this will help!!!!
Pavelski
reply to 'Initiate turns in powder??' posted Dec-2006
I realized after reading my reply that I presented the "ultimate" in skiing powder. Something you will do no doubt in some years, but now you are just getting your toe into the water!
You asked how to "turn"
What I tried to convey to you in the first reply ( not very well) is that you must have a very different "mind" set!
Forget turning in the "groomed" context. That is quick sharp slalom turns with edges sets on each turn!
It really is a mind set in which you must face downhill, and stay at all times facing downhill!
You will learn over several years.
First ski in powder snow that is boot level.
Learn to be "soft" with edges and try to make long soft turns.
Avoid quick hard edges sets.
NEVER but never stop at top of powder run.Carry the speed into the powder! If you hesitate then you are afraid and you have lost before starting.
I just read in another ski site a saying that is so relevant.
You think you are an expert skier but the powder proves you are not!
No comment!!!
Once you can ski fast , fall-line runs with snow up to boots and be at ease, graduate to knee level powder skiing!
Gradually you will be at ease with; speed, balance, long soft turns then you will be ready for the serious stuff I have described above!
Someday then you will ski for 15 minutes from top to bottom with snow just above your chin and remember to never let that voice slow you down!
Enjoy!
You asked how to "turn"
What I tried to convey to you in the first reply ( not very well) is that you must have a very different "mind" set!
Forget turning in the "groomed" context. That is quick sharp slalom turns with edges sets on each turn!
It really is a mind set in which you must face downhill, and stay at all times facing downhill!
You will learn over several years.
First ski in powder snow that is boot level.
Learn to be "soft" with edges and try to make long soft turns.
Avoid quick hard edges sets.
NEVER but never stop at top of powder run.Carry the speed into the powder! If you hesitate then you are afraid and you have lost before starting.
I just read in another ski site a saying that is so relevant.
You think you are an expert skier but the powder proves you are not!
No comment!!!
Once you can ski fast , fall-line runs with snow up to boots and be at ease, graduate to knee level powder skiing!
Gradually you will be at ease with; speed, balance, long soft turns then you will be ready for the serious stuff I have described above!
Someday then you will ski for 15 minutes from top to bottom with snow just above your chin and remember to never let that voice slow you down!
Enjoy!
Hopscotch
reply to 'Initiate turns in powder??' posted Dec-2006
Thanks pavelski, off to Austria in the morning, snow forecast for Mon, Tues & Wed. So I am going to give it a rip!
Cheers
Cheers
Trencher
reply to 'Initiate turns in powder??' posted Dec-2006
Pavelski, I could have done with your advice befor I went to to Park City the other week. Powder feels so unnatural on skis for a carver like me. I was wishing I'd brought a snowboard with me. I love that analogy of the mental bow wave to surmount.
Trencher
Trencher
because I'm so inclined .....
Pavelski
reply to 'Initiate turns in powder??' posted Dec-2006
Trencher,
The challenge in skiing is that you constantly learn. You never master skiing.
I chuckle ( as little) when I read neophytes that ask if after 1 day they can learn to ski!
Nature always wins, but we adapt!
That is why on every first run I always go to "easy" runs and "feel" the snow in oder to know how to ski! I think one day I will list all the "snow" conditions we ski on and how to adapt to each conditions. In Utah it took me 3 hours to finally be comfortable in powder. I kept looking for the "hard eastern snow"!
May I wish you Trencher a happy new year and much pleasure on the boards! It has been enjoyable reading your excellent comments and encouragements. Hope you get very soon more snow and sun!
The challenge in skiing is that you constantly learn. You never master skiing.
I chuckle ( as little) when I read neophytes that ask if after 1 day they can learn to ski!
Nature always wins, but we adapt!
That is why on every first run I always go to "easy" runs and "feel" the snow in oder to know how to ski! I think one day I will list all the "snow" conditions we ski on and how to adapt to each conditions. In Utah it took me 3 hours to finally be comfortable in powder. I kept looking for the "hard eastern snow"!
May I wish you Trencher a happy new year and much pleasure on the boards! It has been enjoyable reading your excellent comments and encouragements. Hope you get very soon more snow and sun!
Trencher
reply to 'Initiate turns in powder??' posted Dec-2006
Thanks Pavelski. I appreciate your being so open minded. That's a sign of having seen everything, but knowiing there's always something new.
A very good new year to you too.
Trencher
A very good new year to you too.
Trencher
because I'm so inclined .....
Topic last updated on 31-December-2006 at 17:40